Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The periwinkle color of these dainty flowers are offered as a small remembrance to memorialize the great Irish storyteller, Maeve Binchy. She always managed to create rich characters with real issues in contemporary settings, but the major focus was always on their relationships - intimate, friendship, familial. Since my reading is always behind, I still have her last novel, Minding Frankie, to read - now it will be relished even more. Naples, FL

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Blurred by the speed of this group who sped by (in excess of the speed limit BTW)...and managed to 'hog' both lanes of the road (there's another bike out of view), there is some envy in the 'freedom to ride'. The balance with safety and the rights of other drivers shouldn't be compromised. Some view the situation differently, though.... Outside Labelle, FL

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Though the balloons are deflated and some of the cards duplicated, the warm wishes shared by my mom's friends and family are a good reminder of the personal connections and support needed, provided and appreciated during troubling times. But May's stroke and its impact is now being countered with the strength and frontier spirit of this 90 year old,Wyoming-bred/raised cowgirl! She's home and making huge steps of progress back to her usual active self! :) Viera, FL

Another entryway - this one a bit more quirky between the purple house color and the framed print hung on the outside wall, but considerably more inviting in its casual and natural look (compared to this one). Central Ave & 5th St, Naples, FL

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Boxes of 'retro fit' equipment and accessories are ready for the first day of school. While some of the contents may have been 'state of the art' when first introduced to teachers ten years ago, technology hardware has traveled far since then. It is a dilemma, though - how do you balance the excessive cost of new technology initiatives with the need to stay current, especially when teachers are so often focused on the 'alphabet soup' of accountability measures? Lorenzo Walker campus, Naples, FL

Monday, July 23, 2012

Summers always bring a bit more time for pleasure reading and this year has been no exception. With an obvious slant towards Asian culture, these four deal with a variety of issues that are both different and the same - the universality of some themes! All were worth reading, but my favorite was The Art of Hearing Heartbeats (the title alone is special!) by German author, Jan-Philip Sendker. A debut novel, the story was recently translated and made available in the US. At one level, it is an emotional fairytale with suspenseful elements....but at another level, it unveils human values and behavior that guide our everyday lives. Naples, FL

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Of the many Florida shorebirds, the eastern willets seem to be the most cautious about humans...or maybe it is the camera-stalking variety?! ;) This one was spotted down the shoreline about 50 feet headed in my direction with its beak in and out of the sand nosing around for a morsel. Despite my stillness, it had to be aware of me, but it kept on plugging along...until I raised my lens, albeit slowly. Then I got the brush-off! :) But that's ok!

One can appreciate the wariness when knowing more about the history and past experiences of the general type and/or individual - making time to research, understand, and appreciate others leads to better interactions....something upon which to build. 4th Ave N & Gulf of Mexico, Naples, FL

Within the center of this bromeliad is a thriving ecosystem - beauty in its own right!

A leisurely walk around the Naples Botanical Garden early morning with a photographic focus on the various features of the Florida Garden brought over 100 images, many of which are uploaded here. It is always difficult to select my favorite one for the daily posting, but the random 'dart' seems to work!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Seeking shelter from the heat? This roadside bench has a cover, but with 105 degree heat index, it wouldn't soothe the physical discomfort for long. On the positive side, it does overlook a 'cooling' lake with fountain for the psychological and sense-filled state! :) Taken from inside the blasting A/C vehicle - yes, I'm giving up 'art' for comfort today...LOL. Naples, FL

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Spying on the neighbor's telescope - maybe some vicarious star-gazing or perhaps a glimpse of those African dust particles that have managed to cross the Atlantic and settle in our atmosphere?! ;) Exploring the skies with magnified visual assistance is definitely an awesome experience - one that changes the normal perspective and offers time for reflection. Naples, FL

Monday, July 16, 2012

Well preserved, a 'bouquet' of sagebrush reminds me of my Rocky Mountain family and friends. Its three-lobed leaves and rather significant fragrance heavily populates the great high plains. Grazed by the pronghorn, it is incredibly hardy in the arid climes. Though I don't use it as the Native Americans did in their ritual cleansings, a certain healing power prevails! Naples, FL

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Tomatoes, limes, mangoes, mozarella, basil and ciabatta - all from an early morning visit to the Farmer's Market!! Already enjoyed caprese salad for lunch, but imagine it won't take too long before all is consumed - Yum! :) Naples, FL

Friday, July 13, 2012

Raindrops abound in the current weather pattern. Summertime usually brings late afternoon thunder storms and welcoming rain, but recently we have had downpours in the morning and early afternoon as well. It makes for a fun photo opportunity and more growth to mow and manage, but it is rainy season. Naples, FL

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Playing with focus in the late afternoon light - love how it creates depth and mood. Just a small philodendron house plant on the window sill, often ignored...but today it became the focal point! Funny how our attention shifts depending on the motivation and environment! :) Naples, FL

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

A series of padlocks on a delivery truck were all locked except this one...hmmm - just forgotten or was there an intentional reason? Some 'good news' items were unlocked for me today including, a promising report from my recent PET scan! Additionally, I finally got access to my online results, so I can follow more closely - though it is only partially 'unlocked'.

Thinking about the use of locks reminds me of the need to carefully consider what needs to be locked up before investing in the time and effort. And, like so many things, if it is worth being locked up, then be sure to make it worthwhile and lock it up! :) Golden Gate Pkwy & Livingston, Naples, FL

Though this margarita pizza is not homemade nor full of full of veggies like @konarheim's, it was very tasty and hit the spot on a busy Monday. Paired with the famed antipasto salad, it became a balanced meal, as well....though probably more caloric than necessary! ;) Interestingly, this pizza place was part of a franchise last week and have now chosen to go off on their own so they can buy local instead of purchasing frozen from the company. Good choice! Naples, FL

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Most think of the beaches or Disney World or sometimes even the swamps and high rises when they think of Florida, but the majority of land is actually used for agriculture. My travels through the rural center of the state are filled with orange groves and cattle ranches (yes, our ranches have palm trees - it is Florida, after all!). The diversity keeps the drive interesting! Somewhere near Okeechobee, FL

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Slices of stained glass pieces enhance a door's sidelight. The textures of the clear glass and the embedded materials in various colors and shapes make this one of my favorite pieces. The design can be simple when the elements are complex. Melbourne, FL

Friday, July 6, 2012

A bit behind the times, but finally discovering our public library's Overdrive service with both ebooks and audiobooks, which I especially like for travel and walking. Though not the recent top sellers for the most part, there are a fair number of nuggets. Naples, FL

Thursday, July 5, 2012

These buoys are being used to decorate or mark a mailbox, so definitely not focused on their original function - not even sure I would count them as aesthetic, but that might be up for debate. ;) They are definitely anchored off sea, at least for the time being. 3rd Ave N & 4th St, Naples, FL

Monday, July 2, 2012

Just a little bit of pepper and this Copper River salmon is on its way to the grill...and, more importantly, onto my taste buds! :) Succulent and mouthwatering, this favorite fish is worth its extra price on occasion. And, it will always remind me of an informal reunion with two high school friends this time last year. :) Naples, FL

Surprised to see these pretty coleus caladiums, so dense and profuse, this time of year - usually a more wintry bouquet for us. With its Christmasy colors, it also seems out of place! :) Just another reminder that just when you count on predictions, they throw you for a loop! Viera, FL

Typical Naples summer street scene - plenty of sunshine, lots of color, some construction and no takers on outdoor seating (a combination of non-tourist season and high humidity/temperatures!). Even though the OPEN sign is welcoming, the vacancy rate is relatively and predictably high. This is the time of year that we Neapolitans get our city back! :) 6th Ave S & 8th St, Naples, FL

This lizard (perhaps a knight anole?) was up about 25 feet in a tree and much larger than our traditional lizards. It was also playing 'hide and seek' with me and this is the best shot I could get of it...but now I know to keep my eyes peeled for another encounter! Naples, FL

Ah, the lovely poinciana tree is still showing off her flamboyant colors! They look even more brilliant when seen or photographed against a bright blue sky normally expected around here, but another day of clouds, banded downpours and wind. Thankfully, our usual sunny skies are expected back in another day or two and will be appreciated even more - it's all relative! :) Naples, FL

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread the pistachios in an even layer on a sheet pan and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until aromatic and slightly browned. Let cool.2. Meanwhile, combine the couscous and boiling broth in a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let sit for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.3. Add the cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper, stir and fluff with a fork. Spread the couscous on a sheet pan, rake with a fork, and let cool to room temperature.4. Combine the couscous, mint, scallions, juices, orange zest, olive oil, raisins, and pistachios and mix well, then taste and adjust seasoning. You may need to add a pinch or two of salt, a squeeze of lemon, or a dash of olive oil to balance the flavors. (Store, refrigerated, up to four days. The flavor deepens as it sits.)

Variation: Make this a meal in a bowl by adding 1 cup of cooked chickpeas at the end.

"He began to look out for empty matchboxes. Each offered a world of possibilities for the minute objects and the patterns he could make of them, patterns that he could alter endlessly as pieces of coloured glass can be shifted in a kaleidoscope. Lying open, they revealed themselves like constellations in the night. Shut in a box, they become invisible. And he could carry them on him, keep them to himself; no one would know."~ Anita Desai, The Artist of Disappearance, p. 153.

Despite email and other messaging systems, there is still an attraction to note cards, especially when you don't need to spend a stamp to mail them. Unfortunately, practicality and efficiency more often take precedence and the note card collection is rarely used. What a pity! The plus side is that communication is much more prevalent without the pen and paper. Fortunately, there is a place and time for both - just need to assess and act! :) Naples, FL

Purple nail polish (specifically named Plum Passion!) was a surprise gift from a friend recently. Its significance is evidenced from a story I told my friend a couple of weeks ago. I ran into a colleague at a store and we were commiserating about various work related items. Along comes another colleague who retired the previous year - she looked great, so obviously retirement was agreeing with her. She listened to our issues and gripes, sympathized...and then said, "Well, I'm just here to buy some new nail polish - I'm thinking purple!" So, the moral of the story: Don't wait til retirement to paint your nails purple - do it now and have some fun! :) Naples, FL

A swath of fabric from a colorful silky scarf - abstract and diverse! :) Such is the wonderful multicultural diversity of our global society these days - fitting nicely with my audiobook of listening while driving across the state - Little Bee by Chris Cleave (not sure why I didn't finish the text version, but am enjoying now!). Naples, FL

A strong steady breeze kept the river choppy and the temperatures tolerable ... but how much is too much? Though the dock leading to the boathouse looks in major need of repair and the wooden structure looks very weathered, the mere existence seems predictable. One does wonder how long before it collapses against the force of the elements.

Balance is so difficult to achieve - there is no magic formula, but a matter of 'give and take'. And, just when you think that equilibrium is set, the target moves...ever seeking that scaled distribution. US 1 & Indian River, Palm Shores, FL

Pineapples grow quite well on their own, once started, in our tropical climate - they do take awhile to ripen and hopefully, my mom will enjoy them instead of the lawn maintenance men! There are three sizable ones (plus a baby shooter) in this shot, but more on the other side - not a bad harvest expected.

I love to see examples of self-sufficient sustenance. We have become so dependent on others for our own nourishment and other forms of livelihood, it is a bit scary. Recognizing that we are an interdependent global society provides an understandable justification...but the 'learned helplessness' that often accompanies it provides no benefits at all. Grow something edible, fish for your own dinner, and/or forage wild mushrooms - try one thing on a regular basis keep those self-reliant skills in practice! :) Melbourne, FL

It is Flag Day - a day to commemorate our nation's red, white and blue symbol of freedom... but it is also my cousin's birthday and I happened across this 'falling star'. Not only does it add to my weather vane collection, but it's cosmic nature reflects the deep spirituality of her being. So, enjoy your special day, dear J!

Our attempts to quantify and strengthen concrete realities is natural, I suppose. But like the personal and sensory experiences that go beyond the traditional awareness, the spiritual being can often be elusive. There may be some corollaries to the path of our learning institutions - the measurement factors are emphasized (easily understood due to their obvious nature), but the deep learning (not so easily assessed) is a bit more slippery. That, of course, shouldn't make it ok to pursue only the easiest route.... 1st Ave N & 3rd St, Naples, FL

Red is the preferred color for this signage - wonder if there is research to back them up? Attention-getting, indeed - hopefully, stimulating the economy, as well! :) Tin City, US 41 E & Goodlette, Naples, FL

Seeing this solitary bird on the wire that appears to divide made me think of the various choices we have and decisions we make every day - sometimes with purpose, but so often without an awareness of why we do what we do. This bird has a choice to fly away, to stay where he is on the wire, to move along the wire...and perhaps some other alternatives. No matter how you look at it, though, not making a decision is, in fact, making a decision. A bit of a conundrum? ;)

“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan”~ C.S. Lewis

So, if there is no escaping decision-making and the 'gray' area is blurred, how do we help those who don't care/know how to take responsibility for such judgments or take accompanying actions? US 41 E & Goodlette, Naples, FL